One of Japan’s 70 estimated full-time actors is 34-year-old Ittetsu Suzuki (@ittetsu_silk) on Twitter), who Nikkan Gendai (May 10) describes as the first to perform solely in films written specifically to arouse female fans.

The evening tabloid says that his 174-centimeter, 68-kilogram frame is lean and deeply tanned, a look that is not at all imposing and corresponds with the soshoku-kei danshi (herbivorous male) phenomenon that has been gaining popularity with women in recent years.

Sales figures exemplify his fame. AV releases intended for male audiences that ship 3,000 units are considered successes, but for Suzuki to register a hit that figure must be bumped up to 10,000.

In the beginning, however, hard times were in abundance. Suzuki entered the industry at the age of 24, while studying to be a certified accountant. He answered an ad on the Internet seeking a “soup man,” which in AV parlance is an extra tasked with the job of ensuring that the climatic scenes end with a splash, so to speak.

“I received 1,000 yen for my first job,” says Suzuki. “If transportation costs are taken into consideration, I made a total of 40 yen.”

Suzuki’s big break came in 2009, when he was featured inside a special section of women’s magazine An An dedicated to porn for females. The year before, he starred in a film from the label Silk Labo that was written to suit the tastes of women.

Fan letters for Suzuki subsequently poured in, with many requesting future titles featuring love stories and sex scenes that emphasize hugs and kisses. The following year, Suzuki signed an exclusive deal with Silk Labo.

Before entering AV, Suzuki had experience with only two women. But backed by a persona that exudes sweetness and tenderness, the actor now stars in 40 films each month, and claims to have had sex with more than 3,000 women.

Success, however, does have its consequences. Indeed, he is grateful to have an exclusive agreement in place, but he always carries a sense of crisis with him, concerned that his output may decrease by a film or two each month. “I worry that I might become less capable,” he says.

Further, he frets over the impact his occupation may have on his family, which consists of a wife and three-year-old child. “If the nature of my job is leaked and bullying (of my child) results, my wife and I are prepared to move,” he says.

One of the keys to his success has been his ability to understand the fundamental differences between porn for men and that for women. “Women don’t desire violent activities and verbal persecution,” says the actor, referring to what commonly happens in AV films targeting male fans.

Suzuki can see that the reality is quite different, which is a huge plus in his line of work. “I study AV for men to build self-confidence,” he says.

Note: Brief extracts from Japanese vernacular media in the public domain that appear here were translated and summarized under the principle of “fair use.” Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the translations. However, we are not responsible for the veracity of their contents. The activities of individuals described herein should not be construed as “typical” behavior of Japanese people nor reflect the intention to portray the country in a negative manner. Our sole aim is to provide examples of various types of reading matter enjoyed by Japanese.